Support and actuating structure for gyratory crusher heads



Oct. 15, 194 2,409,391

SUPPORT AND ACTUATING STRUCTURE FOR GYRATORY CRUSHER HEADS H. H. RUMPJEL- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31., 1943 n IIiIVENTOR.

A 2' TOE/V596;

Oct. 15, 1946. H. H. RU-h rIPEL 2,409,

SUPPORT AND ACTUATING' STRUCTURE FOR GYRATORY CRUSHER HEADS F 'il-ed May :51, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A 7' TOR NEVeS Patented Oct. 15, 1946 SUPPPORT AND ACTUATING STRUCTURE FOR GYRATORY CRUSHER HEADS Harvey H. Rumpel, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Smith Engineering Works, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 31, 1943, Serial No.'489,108

i 4 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of crushing, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction and operation of gyratory crushers for rock, ore, and similar materials.

Generally defined, an object of the invention is to provide an improved crusher which is simple and durable in construction, and which is also highly efficient in operation.

It has heretofore been proposed as shown in my prior Patent No. 2,158,779, granted May 16, 1939, to provide a sturdy and compact gyratory crusher assemblage comprising a frame having a fixed central upright column, an eccentric journalled for rotation upon said column and supported upon a thrust bearing surrounding a lower portion of the column, a crushing concave tiltably supported on the frame, a crushing head gyratable by and freely rotatable about the eccentric within the concave and resting through a supporting plate upon the top of the column, and a sealing ring coacting through annular seals with the frame and head to positively prevent dust and grit from reaching the otherwise totally concealed eccentric'and its driving gear.

One specific object of my present invention is to provide various improvements in gyratory crushers of the above described general type, whereby the structures thereof are simplified and strengthened, while the operating efiiciency is enhanced to a maximum.

It is desirable in crusher assemblages'of this kind, to have the central column very rigidly attached tothe frame With the top surface of the column disposed in a definite horizontal plane'with respect to the crushing chamber and concave, so that uniform crushing will always result, and since the upper overhanging portion of the column is subject to enormous lateral pressures tending to loosen the same and the upper column surface is also subject to wear, provision should be made for periodically tightening the column in its fixed supporting socket if and when the column becomes loosened relative to the frame, and for replacing the column when excessively worn.

Another specific object of the present invention is therefore, to provide an improved mounting and support forthe central column, and simple but effective means for periodicallyretightening the column when loosened and for removing and replacing the same whenever desired.

It is also desirable in order to maintain uniformity in size of the crushed product and also in order to cause the annular seals which are interposed between the lower portion of the head and the annular sealing member carried by the driving gear but which is spaced from the head, to function properly at all times, to provide some means for effecting vertical adjustment of the head along the fixed column, but such adjusting means should avoid puncturing the head in a manner which might permit foreign matter from entering the eccentric chamber, or which will enable lubricant to escape from this chamber.

A further specific object of this invention is to also provide improved means for effecting some vertical adjustment of the head relative to the stationary column, in order to maintain most effective clearance between the constantly rotating sealing member and the normally non-rotating crushinghead, which however, is adapted to rotate independently of the member.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. A clear conception of the several features constituting my present'improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating gyratory crushers embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a typical gyratory crushen embodying the present improvements Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section through the lower portion of the crusher of Fig. 1, taken throughthe central column and its support, along the line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a modification of the gyratory crusher shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. i is a fragmentary central vertical section showing a modified mounting for the central column.

While my present invention has been shown and described as being specifically embodied in a particular type of gyratory crusher having a conical crushing headcooperating with a conical concave flaring in the same general direction to provide an outwardly flaring crushing zone, it is nctmy desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvements which may be advantageously applied to other types of machines having diversely shaped crushing heads and concaves.

The improved gyratory crusher shown in the drawings by way of illustration, comprises in general a sturdy normally stationary main frame having a strong central upright cylindrical column or shaft 6 rigidly but adjustably secured to the lower hub portion 1 thereof; an upright eccentric 8 having a cylindrical inner surface or bore 9 rotatably engaging the outer side surface of the column shaft 6 and also being provided with an outer cylindrical eccentric surface I!) the central axis of which is disposed at an angle to the central axis of the bore 9; a frustro-conical crushing member or head ll having an internal cylindrical bore I 2 rotatably coacting with the outer eccentric surface ill and being provided with an integral imperforate top portion l3 extending across but spaced vertically from the upper extremities of the shaft 6 and eccentric 8; a loose element or thrust block l4 interposed within the space between the top head portion 53 and the upper end of the column shaft 6 for supporting the movable head H directly upon the fixed column; an annular crushing member or normally fixed concave having an adjustable support associated with the frame 5, the concave surrounding and being spaced from the head II to provide a downwardly and outwardly flaring crushing zone or chamber l6; and driving mechanism for the crusher including a bevel gear ll firmly secured to the lower end of the eccentric 8 and a bevel pinion I 8 meshing with the gear and secured to a countershaft l9 which also carries a driving pulley and is journalled forrotation in a bearing 2| mounted upon the main frame '5.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the central hub I of the main frame 5 is rigidly connected to the outer annular wall thereof by means of a series of integral radiating ribs 22 and a diaphragm 23 so as to provide a space for delivery of the crushed product by gravity from the lower annular discharge opening of the crushing chamber I6; and the central column shaft 6 may be rigidly but removably secured to the hub I in the following manner in order to permit convenient tightening of this column in case it becomes loosened. The lower end portion 24 of the shaft 6 is tapered and snugly embraced by an internally tapered longitudinally split sleeve 25 the outer cylindrical surface of which snugly engages the central hub bore 26, and the lower extremity of which rests upon a series of superimposed annular shims 21, see Figs. 1 and 2. A sturdy lower plate 28 is firmly but detachably secured to the bottom of the fixed hub l by means of a series of stud and nut assemblages 2S, and the lower extremity of the column shaft 6 has several studs 30 secured thereto and penetrating holes in the plate 28, the outer threaded ends of these studs 30 being provided with clamping nuts 3i. Since the column shaft 6 must be rigidly connected to the frame 5 at all times and the top of the column should be accurately disposed with respect to the crushing zone !6, the improved mounting assembly will enable such rigid connection and proper location of the column by permitting the split clamping sleeve 25 to be raised or lowered upon insertion or removal of one or more of the shims 27, and by subsequently permitting utilization of the studs 30 and nuts 3! to draw the shaft 6 downwardly so as to cause the tapered portion 24 to spread the sleeve into snug engagement with the hub bore 25. The bottom of the column 6 must always be in contact with the lower plate 28, and the addition or removal of shims 21 should therefore be such that when the nuts 3| are manipulated so as to draw the column B downwardly into engagement with the plate 28, the column will be firmly clamped and positioned. This assemblage besides permitting tightening of the column 6, will also permit ready removal and replacement thereof.

The frustro-conical gyratory crushing head II is provided with an annular renewable mantle 32 adjacent to the crushing chamber I 6, this mantle being held firmly in place by means of a ring nut 33 which is adjustable along a threaded integral upper projection 3 3 of the head, and coacts with the upper end surface of the mantle 32 through a top plate 35 and a frustro-conical spacer ring both disposed above the active crushing zone It. As previously indicated, the upper portion I3 of the head I! provides an effective seal for the upper portions of the column shaft 6 and eccentric 8, and in order to seal the lower head portion against entry of grit and escape of lubricant, an annular sealing member 3? is interposed between the head ll and frame 5. This member 31 is rotatable with the eccentric 8 and driving gear I! and has a bore formed concentric with the outer cylindrical surface !2 of the eccentric, and sliding seal rings 33, 39 are interposed between the member 3! and the frame 5 and head H respectively. Additional annular cylindrical sealing bands 56 are also interposed between the fixed frame 5 and the revolving member 31, and similar sealing bands l are likewise interposed between the rotating member 37 and the relatively revolvable head II, but direct contact between the head H and member 31 must be avoided. While the sealing rings 38, 39 are adapted to slide vertically and to thereby compensate for dropping of the head due to wear in the thrust bearings, the sealing bands 4| will not accommodate extensive vertical displacement, and since direct contact between the head i I and member 31 must be avoided because these elements are not always simultaneously rotatable, provision should be made for raising the head to compensate for wear.

As previously indicated, the gyratory head ll rests upon the top of the column '5 through a loose thrust block 84, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this block M has a plane lower surface 42 slidably engaging a plane horizontal surface at the top of the column 6, and also has a spherically concave upper surface 43 slidably engaging the underside of a supporting block M which is secured to and coacts with the head I! through a series of plate shims 45. The block 64 and shims 35 are snugly confined within a central recess formed in the integral top portion [3 of the head IS, and are prevented from rotating relative to the head by means of one or more dowel pins 46. The intervening thrust block M is adapted to permit free rotation of the head ll about it own central inclined axis, and gyration thereof by the eccentric 8, while the weight of the head and some of the crushing pressures are transmitted directly to the fixed column 5, and the loose laterally slidable block i l will also compensate for wear between the head and its actuating eccentric 8. The weight of the eccentric 8 which is rotatable about the column 6, as well as that of the gear it and member 3?, is borne by a lower thrust hearing it? carried directly by the frame hub I, and this thrust bearing 4'? is not subjected to the weight of the head M. It will be noted, that by removing or adding one'or more of the shims 45, the crushing head i I may be lowered or raised so as to cause the bottom of the head H to properly cooperate with and to remain spaced from the sealing member 31, and the head and mantle assemblage is freely vertically removable for such purpose, when the concave assembly has been removed. The shims 45 may also be utilized in order to compensate for excessive wear on the thrust block l4, and cooperate with the column adjusting shims and with the renewable thrust bearing plate 41 to maintain proper cooperation between the head ll, member 31 and sealing bands 4|.

The normally stationary crushing member or concave i5 is provided with an annular frustroconical and renewable liner 48 adjacent to the crushing zone l6, and may be tiltably and bodily upwardly movably supported upon a special support which is separate from the frame 5, this support comprising an annular adjustable supporting member or ring 49, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The concave H: has an integral upper supporting flange 50 located well above the effective crushing zone, and this flange 50 has a downwardly open annular recess 5| therein which coacts with an annular upper projection 52 formed directly on the ring 49 so as to provide a horizontal plane of separation or tilting of the concave due to abnormal crushing stresses, which is considerably above the upper inlet opening of the chamber l6, and which will produce tilting motion of the concave liner surface approximately normal to the adjacent head mantle surface. A series of relatively stiff compression springs 53 normally coact with the top of the concave flange 58 and react against the underside of a sturdy spider 54 which is firmly supported from the adjusting ring 49 by a series of adjustable tension bolts 55; and the spider 54 may also provide a support for a material supply bin or hopper 56 communicating with the central upper open end of the concave I5 which converges toward the upper end of the crushin zone [6.

The concave supporting and adjusting ring 49 also has lower internal screw threads 51 which coact with threads formed on a wedge ring 53 the interior of which in turn coacts with a frustroconical outer surface 59 formed on the annular outer wall of the frame 5, and the adjusting ring 49 is adapted to be rotated upon the wedge ring 58 with the aid of a prying bar or other mechanism applied to notches 68 formed in the, lower portion of the supporting ring 49. A series of jack screws 5| mounted on the frame 5 beneath the wedge ring 58, may be utilized to force this ring upwardly along the tapered surface 59 to thereby lock the concave l5 and its supporting ring 49 in any desired position of vertical adjustment; and in order to maintain a dust seal between the ring 49 and the outer wall of the frame 5, an annular apron 62 is secured to the ring 49 and is caused to coact with a sealing ring 63 carried by the fram 5 so as to permit relative vertical displacement of these parts without breaking the seal. The interior of the frame 5 adjacent to the discharge opening of the crushing zone [6 and below the apron 82 is also provided with an annular liner 84 for receiving the impact of the final crushed product and for directing this product downwardly; and the diaphragm 23 and bearing 2| are also provided with protecting plates 65 as depicted in Fig. 1.

The modified gyratory crusher structure of Fig. 3 is quite similar in structure and operation to that shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, and the modification involves a difference in the construction and disposition of the thrust plate located between the crushing head and the top of the fixed central column. In the modification the upper portion I3 of the gyratory head II is provided with a plane surface slidably coacting with a smooth surface 42' on the upper side ofthe thrust block l4, and this loose block M has a lower spherically convex surface 43 which slidably engages a concave surface formed in another block 44' which is secured to and coacts with the top of the column shaft 6 through plate shims 45. The fixed block 44' is provided with a recess in which the shims 45 and the top of the columnfi are located, and is prevented from rotating relative to the stationary column by means of one or more dowel pins 46. The head I l of the modified structure is also freely rotatable and gyratable relative to the column 6 and the weight of this crushing head is likewise borne directly by the column 6 through the blocks i4, 44, while the shims 45 provide for vertical adjustment of the head relative to the column shaft and may be used to compensate for wear as previously described.

The mechanism for detachably but rigidly attaching the column 6 to the central huh I of the frame 5, may also be varied as shown in Fig. l, by modifying the lower end 24 of the column 6 and the split clamping collar or sleeve 25. In this modification, the lower end 24 of the upright column 8 is truly cylindrical and snugly engages a cylindrical central bore in the longitudinally split sleeve 25. The exterior of the split sleeve 25' is tapered to fit a tapered bore 28' formed in the frame hub l; and annular shims 21 are again interposed between the lower end of the sleeve 25 and the lower plate 28, while the lower end of the column 6 is drawn into direct contact with this plate 28 by means of studs 30 and nuts 3i coacting therewith. This modification obviously functions practically the same as the columnclamping and tightening assemblage of Fig. 1.

Since the normal operation of the several Crushers shown and described is practically the same, it will suflice to describe the operation of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2. During normal operation of the improved gyratory crusher assemblage, the drive shaft I9 is normally being rotated by power applied to the pulley 20, thereby imparting relatively rapid rotation to the eccentrio 8 through the pinion l8 and gear ll. This rotation of the eccentric 8 produces rapid gyration of the head II and its mantle 32, relative to the concave l5 and liner 48, while at the same time permitting free rotation of the head H about the outer eccentric surface [0. The material whichis admited to the crushing chamber I6 from the supply hopper 56, is subjected to a succession of crushing impulses and gravitates downwardly through the chamber I6, being eventually sufficiently reduced and discharged from the lower end of the crushing zone through the interior of the main frame 5. It is to be understood that while the crusher is operating, lubricant will be constantly forced through passages in the column 6 and will be distributed along grooves in the eccentric 8 and thrust block M to the various bearing surfaces of the machine, and in order to maintain this lubricant free from grit and other foreign material, the seals afforded by the seal rings 38, 39 andby the annular sealing bands 40, 4| must be maintained in tight condition. If it becomes desirable to vary the size of the final product discharged from the crusher. this size may be readily varied by releasing the jack screw BI and adjusting the concave supporting ring 49 along the annular wedge 58 and relative to the frame 5. If an abnormally hard piece of material is admitted to the crushing zone IS, the safety springs 53 will become effective to permit the concave 15 to either rise bodily from the supporting and adjusting ring projection 52, or to tilt thereon sufficiently to permit the obstruction to pass through the crusher without doing material damage. Because of the fact that the plane of tilting between the concave I and its supporting ring 39 is located considerably above the crushing chamber it, relatively slight tilting action will relieve considerable excess pressure and will permit relatively large and unduly hard objects to pass through the crushing chamber is because the crushing surfaces will move directly away from each other, and the seal ring 63 coacting with the apron e2 will not be affected if the impact of material discharged from the crushing chamber it should bend or displace the frame liner 54. Since the apron 52 is attached to and moves vertically with the concave and its support, the lower end of this apron will always remain the same distance above the discharge Zone, and will not be subjected to impact from the final product.

It will be apparent that the thrust block i4, [4 will normally permit slight lateral movement of the head i 9 relative to the upper extremity of the column 5 without subjecting th parts to undue stresses, by virtue of the fact that the thrust block is freely laterally movable relative to the central shaft. If, however, the wear on the block [4, l4

becomes excessive, additional shims 45 may be applied so as to elevate the head I l sufiiciently to provide necessary clearance between the head if and member 31 and to cause the sealing bands 4| to properly cooperate with adjacent structure. If the wear between the thrust block and the top of the column 5 is sufficient to undesirably lower the supporting surface at the top of the column, shims 65 may be placed beneath the lower end of the column 5 and the plate 28 so as to elevate the column sufficiently to restore the supporting surface at the upper end thereof to its original position. In case the column 6 becomes loose, more shims 21 may be inserted beneath the clamping sleeve 25 so as to again tighten the column {5 within the hub l. The adjustments afforded by the shims 2?, 55 are therefore relatively advantageous and desirable for several reasons, and these adjustments can obviously be conveniently effected so as to restore the crusher to its desired operating condition.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides various improvements in the construction and operation of gyratory crushers, whereby the efiiciency of such structures is enhanced to a maximum and the life thereof is also augmented. The improved support for the central column shaft 6 permits this shaft to be rigidly attached to its supporting frame 5 and. to be maintained in rigid condition, or removed, as desired. The use of th clamping bushing or sleeve 25, 25 protects the bore in the frame hub l, and facilitates repair by making it unnecessary to replace large and complex parts such as a frame 5. The improved assemblage of elements associated with the thrust block l4, I l including the adjusting shims 45, is also extremely important since this assemblage permits the head I I to be adjusted to compensate for wear and to insure proper sealing of the eccentric confining space. The improved tiltpermitting assemblage for the concave l 5 is likewise of importance since it insures rapid and most effective relief of excess pressures due to abnormal conditions of operation. The improved seal afforded by the apron ring 62 and sealing ring 63, insures maintenance of an effective seal between the concave l5 and frame 5 at all times, by virtue of the fact that the annular apron 62 is formed separate from the annular impact ring 64 and is always spaced from the discharge zone. The entire crusher structure can obviously be manufactured at moderate cost and the parts thereof can be quickly and conveniently assembled and dismantled, and may also be readily maintained in most effective operating condition, While the various improved features are especially applicable to gyratory crushers of the highspeed type, they may be more generally applicable to other types of crushing machines involving similar operating difficulties.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation, -.erein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a crusher, a frame having an upright bore, an upstanding column having a lower tapered portion extending into said bore, a split sleeve interposed between said tapered column portion and said bore, a member secured to said frame and spanning the lower end of said bore, a series of removable shims interposed between said member and the bottom of said sleeve for varying the elevation of the latter, means coacting with said member for pulling said column into said sleeve to clamp the column to said frame, eccentric rotatable about said column, a crushing head coacting with said eccentric and having the major portion of its weight carried by the top of said column independently of the eccentric, and means for rotating said eccentric to gyrate said head relative to said column.

2. In a crusher, a frame having a fixed upstanding column provided with an upwardly concave fixed surface at its top, an eccentric rotatable about said column, means for revolving said eccentric, a crushing head gyratable by and freely rotatable about said eccentric and having an integral portion spanning said column top and provided with a plane surface facing said concave surface, a thrust element loosely interposed between said surfaces and being laterally movable relative thereto for supporting the major portion of the weight of said head on said column independently of said eccentric, and means for varying the elevation of one of said surfaces to effect vertical adjustment of said head relative to said column.

3. In a crusher, a frame having a fixed upstanding column provided with an upwardly concave fixed surface at its top, an eccentric rotatable about said column, means for revolving said eccentric, a crushing head gyratable by and freely rotatable about said eccentric and having an integral portion spanning said column top and provided with a plane surface facing said concave surface, a thrust element loosely interposed between said surfaces and being laterally slidable thereon for supporting the major portion of the weight of said head on said column independently of said eccentric, means for varying the elevation of one of said surfaces to effect vertical adjustment of said head relative to said column, and means for detachably clamping said column to said frame to maintain the top surface thereof at a predetermined elevation.

4. In a crusher, a frame having an upright bore bounded by an annular surface, an upstanding column having a lower portion bounded by an annular surface positioned centrally Within said bore, at least one of said surfaces being tapered, a split sleeve interposed between said surfaces, a member secured to said frame and spanning the bottom of said bore, removable shims interposed between said member and the bottom of said sleeve for varying the elevation of the latter, means coacting with said member for pulling said column into said sleeve to clamp the column to said frame, an eccentric rotatable about column, a crushing head ooacting With said eccentric and having the major portion of its weight carried by the top of said column independently of the eccentric, and means for rotating said eccentric to gyrate said head relative to 10 said column, 

